Section 7 · Iteration & Expression

Constraint

Definition

A deliberately fixed limitation — of format, palette, element set, or method — inside which the work is made.

Why it matters

Constraint accelerates iteration. When the frame, palette, and vocabulary are settled, all attention goes to the variable actually being tested.

Example

Restricting a series to one weight, one color, and a fixed frame so only spacing and position vary.

Note

It’s easy to read constraint as punishment until you feel the speed it produces. Treating it as a professional method, not a beginner’s exercise, changes how it lands.